All tagged Myanmar
Booking train, bus and ferry tickets in Asia can be difficult if you are not familiar with the routes and transport operators, but online booking apps and websites can make the task much easier. But with hundreds of such online ticketing platforms vying for your business, how can you tell which are the best ones to use. We take a look at reviews of these sites to determine which are the most reliable.
Myanmar’s brutal military junta have reopened the country to tourists because they need foreign currency. Tourism Myanmar is paying travel magazines and social media influencers to produce content to attract tourists back to the country despite most governments advising citizens that it is not safe to travel there. Niko Samaras was a regular traveller to Myanmar and offers his take on whether you should visit or boycott Myanmar.
Asia is blessed with many of the world’s greatest religious sites, some dating back centuries. While the finest of them enjoy near-universal acclaim, others are less well-known, and many people will have visited sites that mean something special to them. Here are 12 of the best to visit ranging from the famous to some lesser known.
Asia has a surprisingly good number of locations where it is possible to take hot air balloon flights. Drifting over a scenic landscape as the sun rises is both exciting and relaxing, and many travellers who are nervous about flying or suffer vertigo in tall buildings have said that flying in a hot air balloon was one of their most exhilarating experiences ever. It’s a wonderful way to see places from a new perspective.
Myanmar is one of the two poorest countries in Southeast Asia after decades of being isolated from the rest of the world by a military dictatorship. However, millions of international tourists now visit Myanmar every year as it offers some unique experiences that can’t be found anywhere else in Asia. Its slow pace of life and friendly people make it an ideal destination for older travellers, especially for culture and history buffs.
Shaggy and hard-working, the yak plays an essential role in the lives of people on the high plateaus of the Himalayas. It’s a pack animal and important provider of milk, food and much else for communities across the far-flung region. Here are some facts about this distinctively Asian animal.
Spirit houses can be seen in different forms all over Southeast Asia and in many other parts of the continent too. They are often draped in colourful garlands of flowers and have offerings of food and drinks for the spirits. We take a closer look at the spirit houses in Thailand and find out why they are there.
The novel coronavirus pandemic is causing many older travellers to put on hold their plans to travel in Asia. People over 60 face the highest risk of dying if they contract the virus. But those who choose to stay at home can still find ways of giving rein to their wanderlust. Here are a few ways how.
As tropical Asia hurtles into the future, much of its colonial heritage is being lost. But reminders of those times are being preserved in the form of some fine old hotels that have been renovated and converted into luxury accommodation. They’re likely to appeal to anyone with an interest in Asia’s colonial history. We take a look at six of them. If staying there is beyond your budget, you can always go for a meal or a drink and take a look around.
The stunning Shwedagon Pagoda in Yangon inspires awe in almost anyone who visits it. It lies at the heart of the city, both geographically and spiritually, and its striking presence on the city skyline helps define Yangon in a way that few monuments in other cities can. The city’s rich history and vibrant present provide plenty of interest, not least for older travellers keen to learn more about the country’s distinctive culture and traditions.
Older travellers may not rush around as much as they did in their younger days, but they still seek adventure – and Asia has excitement a plenty to offer. Here’s a look at how travel can help people stay young at heart even in their golden years.
Paintings make great souvenirs to bring home from a trip to Asia. They not only serve as a reminder of places that you’ve visited, but will look great on the walls of your home. Original paintings may appreciate in value and are a better buy than reproductions. Our guide to buying art in Asia tells you where the best places are to buy original paintings, how to transport your paintings home, and where to see the best art if you aren’t in the mood to buy yet.
Asia is one of two continents where there is a higher risk of contracting rabies than elsewhere in the world. Rabies is a serious disease because it is almost always fatal if not treated. Therefore it is important for travellers to know how transmission can occur and what action to take in the event that they come into contact with a rabid animal. If promptly treated, rabies is 100 percent curable.
There are only 10 countries in Asia that allow travellers to use camera drones without a permit. In about 20 others, the process of acquiring permits ranges from relatively easy to extremely hard. In many others, recreational flying of drones is banned. Even in countries where drones are permitted, there are many no-fly zones and regulations that have to be followed. Penalties for breaching drone laws can be heavy fines or even imprisonment. This article summarises where you can and cannot fly drones in Asia.
For those who enjoy a tipple, one of the pleasures of travelling in Asia is sampling some of the locally-produced drinks. A wide selection of alcoholic drinks is available, with many countries producing not only their own beer and wine but a sometimes surprising range of spirits.
Soldiers from Commonwealth countries who died in Asia during the two World Wars lie buried in impressive cemeteries across the continent. An inter-governmental organisation, the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, maintains the cemeteries immaculately. They are sure to be of interest to many senior travellers, including those whose parents, grandparents or other close relatives served in the wars.
